The Importance of Self-Love and Self-Care: Helping Yourself to Help Others
Written by Jo Hodges, LMT MSG#015344
International Self-Care Day is technically on July 24th, but February has been dubbed the month for all things love-related since the 3rd century, with the tale of Saint Valentine. This makes it the perfect time to talk about the growing need for self-love and self-care in the modern world for your physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing!
So, why is self-care so important? Why are we always told to look inward when fixing our problems? Why does every single self-care book on the shelves seem to come from someone that has had this big awakening, learned this big secret that they’re convincing you is going to be a blessing for your ‘new life’? At some point, you just start to look back and think of all the articles and books and interviews you’ve seen (or haven’t even had the time to look through!) and tell yourself that your life could be ‘just like theirs..’ – your life could be picture-perfect, could have no dirty laundry or no toys everywhere, a well-organized fridge with little Pinterest-worthy labels – ‘..if you only had the time!’. In a survey conducted by OnePoll in 2019, they addressed the growing need for self-care in adults, showing that over 80% of participants claimed that they wished they had more time for self-care.
The truth is simple, and harder to face than everyone wants it to be: you have to make the time for yourself. You have to be the one advocating for your own health, you have to follow the signs and learn when you need a break. Self-care doesn’t have to be a week-long vacation to the Caribbean (even if that would be ideal); it doesn’t have to break the bank or leave you scrambling to figure out where it could possibly fit on your calendar. It can also be however often you can make it, whether it’s once a week, once a month, or quarterly. Your refresh is dependent on you – no “lifestyle planner”, “health challenge”, or other internet guide is going to work for you as well as listening to your own body does.
Massage is a wonderful self-care tool for whole-body health, not just the physical side. Take a day after work; a day while the kids are in school; a day that you can relax before, during, and after-session, and work on loving yourself that little bit more. Give us a call or look through this website to schedule! If you’re reading this, and can think of someone that needs that push for a break, check out our gift certificates for presents! In the spirit of Saint Valentine, I wish love and peace to all of you this February, and pray that the Groundhog says it’s an early Spring!